FOOTBALLER John Terry was not guilty of racially abusing his opponent Anton Ferdinand and all campaigners against racism in football should feel relieved about that.

Yet it is also true that the trial of Mr Terry, featuring as it did evidence of filthy and abusive language, hardly painted a flattering picture of the modern professional game.

It is impossible to envisage the all-time greats of English football such as Sir Bobby Charlton or Sir Tom Finney ever behaving in such an uncouth manner. Whether they like it or not top footballers are more than ever role models for young people and much of their earning power is based upon their hero status.

As the new season draws near the football authorities need to make a determined bid to improve standards of behaviour in the professional game.

For a start that should mean clamping down much harder on foul and abusive language, violent conduct, the feigning of injury and the expression of dissent towards referees.

Undoubtedly racist abuse is much less a feature of football than it was a generation ago, both on the pitch and on the terraces. But this trial has shown that the so-called “beautiful game” has an ugly side that needs stamping out.